Leslie Horn

If you haven't paid attention to Google's Chrome OS in awhile, you might not recognize it after today's update: the cloud-based OS UI has been revamped and new functionality like multitouch trackpad support was added. Coinciding with that release is an updated Samsung Series 5 Chromebook, and a Series 3 Chromebox. The emphasis here is nearly singular: speed, speed, speed.

The updated OS has a new app-focused user interface, which lets you chose which programs you use most often for easier access. Google Drive will serves as their data storage system, and deeper integration should be coming in the next few weeks. Also included is a revamped media player and a brand new photo editor and uploader, along with remote desktop support for both Windows and Mac, so you're never too far away from your main machine. Additionally, Chrome OS now supports hardware-accelerated graphics.

And then there's the new hardware. According to The Verge, the Chromebook has a 1.3GHz dual-core Intel Celeron 867 processor and 4GB of RAM to go with a 12.1-inch, 1200x800 display, multitouch trackpad, wi-fi and 3G, 2 USB 2.0 ports, a 4-in-1 card reader, and more than eight hours of battery life. The Chromebox is a diminutive box with a 1.9GHz Intel Celeron B840 processor and 4GB of RAM, dual-band Wifi, 6 USB 2.0 ports, Gigabit ethernet, and 2x DisplayPort++ for an HDMI, DVI, or VGA connection. And it's worth noting that despite their Celeron designation, Google says the computers are part of the Sandy Bridge family and are about three times faster than their predecessors. [Google]